Joe Carter

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Lore & Background

Carter first excelled in baseball at Wichita State, batting .430 in three seasons and playing in the team's first NCAA tournament appearance in 1980. He was selected second overall in the 1981 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. After two years in the minors, he debuted in 1983 but played only 23 games before being traded to Cleveland in the deal that sent Rick Sutcliffe to Chicago. In 1986, he led the American League in RBIs with 121 and had the first of twelve seasons with at least 20 home runs. Carter was traded twice within a year, going to San Diego in 1990 and Toronto in 1991. In seven seasons with the Blue Jays, he was a five-time All-Star and won Silver Slugger Awards in 1991 and 1992. He recorded the final out in the 1992 postseason that gave Toronto its first championship. In the 1993 World Series, with the Blue Jays trailing in the 9th inning of Game 6 and runners on base, Carter hit a walk-off three-run home run to win the championship, making him the second player (after Bill Mazeroski in 1960) to end a World Series with a home run. It was his final postseason appearance. Carter played with Toronto until 1997, recording his tenth and final season with at least 100 RBIs. He played his final season with Baltimore and San Francisco in 1998. In over 2,000 games, he had 2,184 hits, 396 home runs, 1,445 RBIs, and a .259 career batting average. He was inducted into the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence in 1999 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Carter's career occurred in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series. With the Blue Jays leading the series three games to two, they trailed 6–5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and runners on base. On a 2–2 count against pitcher Mitch Williams, whom he had previously gone 0–4 against, Carter launched a three-run walk-off home run. It was only the second time a World Series ended with a home run, following Bill Mazeroski in 1960, and uniquely, it was the first time a player hit the series-ending home run while his team was trailing. As he rounded first base, his helmet came off and he jumped up and down repeatedly. Radio broadcaster Tom Cheek famously shouted, "Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" This swing secured the back-to-back championship for Toronto.

Reader's Guide

Carter was a three-sport athlete at Millwood High School in Oklahoma City and was named to the All-State team in Track. He attended Wichita State University, leaving after his junior year, and was named The Sporting News College Player of the Year in 1981. In the 1981 MLB draft, the Chicago Cubs chose him second overall. He batted .319 with 25 home runs and 98 RBIs in 110 games for the Midland Cubs of the AA Texas League in 1982, and .307 with 22 home runs and 83 RBIs in 124 games for the AAA Iowa Cubs in 1983. The Cubs promoted him to the majors in 1983, where he hit .176 in 23 games, and he began 1984 back in Iowa. On June 13, 1984, he was traded with three others to the Cleveland Indians for Rick Sutcliffe, George Frazier, and Ron Hassey. With Cleveland in 1986, he led the majors with 121 RBIs and set career highs of 200 hits, 341 total bases, and 108 runs scored. He became a prolific power hitter, hitting up to 35 home runs in a season and regularly driving in 100 or more runs. He was also a good baserunner, stealing 20-30 bases a year; in 1987, he joined the 30–30 club. After the 1989 season, the Indians traded him to the San Diego Padres for Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlos Baerga, and Chris James. The Padres then dealt him to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Roberto Alomar for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernández. With Toronto in 1991, he hit the game-winning single that clinched the AL East title. In 1992, he helped the Jays win their first World Series, hitting two home runs and recording the final out on a bunt by Otis Nixon. Carter and Edwin Encarnación are the only two Blue Jays to hit two home runs in one inning, with Carter's coming against the Baltimore Orioles in 1993. In the 1993 World Series, in Game 6, with the Blue Jays leading three games to two, Carter came to bat with one out in the bottom of the ninth, trailing 6–5, with Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor on base. On a 2–2 count, he hit a three-run walk-off home run off Mitch Williams to win the Series. It was only the second time a Series ended with a home run, and the only time the home run was hit by a player whose team was trailing in the bottom of the ninth in a potential championship-clinching game. Carter continued with Toronto until 1997, leading the team in home runs and RBIs in 1994 and 1995. At the 1996 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, he was booed for his 1993 home run. In 1997, he snuck

Did You Know?

• Carter was a three-sport athlete at Millwood High School and was named to the All-State team in Track.
• He was named The Sporting News College Player of the Year in 1981.
• In 1987, Carter became a member of the single-season 30–30 club for home runs and stolen bases.
• Carter and Edwin Encarnación are the only two Blue Jays to hit two home runs in one inning.
• Carter's 1993 World Series-winning home run was a three-run shot, not a solo homer.